Track-sanding apparatus for cars.



No. 686,983. Patented Nov. l9, l90l. W. P. L. PENTLA'ND. TRACK SANDINGAPPARATUS FOR CABS.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. L. PENTLAND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRACK-SANDING APPARATUS FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 686,988, datedNovember 19, 1901.

Application filed August 23, 1901. Serial No. 73,003. (No model.)

To aZZ 'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM P. L. PENT- LAND, of the city of Baltimoreand State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements inTrack-Sanding Apparatus for Cars, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improved means whereby sand is fedmechanically from a suitable receptacle through the medium of mechanismwhich is set in motion from one of the car-wheels, and while the saidinvention is well adapted for use when the sand is dry it is moreparticularly useful when the sand is in a moist condition and from thatcause will not readily fall by gravity from the receptacle to andthrough a conduit or pipe leading to the track-rails, as willhereinafter fully appear.

In the description of the said invention which follows reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which-Figure 1 is a view of the invention as seen from the under side of thecar, and Fig 2 a partly-sectional side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a topview of the sandbox forming a part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is the floor of the car, and 2 a barforminga part of the truck, which turns on the pivotal r king bolt 3.(Shown only in Fig. 1 of the drawings.)

4 is the sand-box, secured to the car-floor 1, terminating at its lowerend in a cylinder in which is situated a conveyer-screw 5, hereinaftermore particularly described.

6 is a rotary shaft, with its upper end in the central boss of an openframe 7 and with its lower end passing through the bottom 9 of thesand-box. This shaft carries the conveyer-screw before referred to andalso the sand-agitating arms 10, and at its lower end it is fastened tothe beveled gear-wheel 11, situated in a casing 12. This casing isadapted to have partial rotation about the flange 13 independently ofthe sand-box, and it is held in place by means of the collar 15.

16 is a horizontally-placed shaft having its bearings in the casing 12,and to it is secured the beveled pinion 17, the teeth of which are inmesh with those of the beveled gear-wheel 11. The outer end of the shaft16 is adapted to slide longitudinally on a feather (not shown) withinthe sleeve 19, which is united to another shaft 20 by means of theuniversal joint 22. Fastened to the outer end of the shaft 20 is afriction-wheel 23, which in circumstances hereinafter described isbrought into contact with the inner surface of the car-wheel 25, whichswings with the bar 2 as the car rounds a curve. The shaft 20 rotates ina block 26, having a curved flange 27, arranged to slide in a box 29,secured to the bar 2. The friction-wheel 23 is held yieldingly fromcontact with the car-wheel 25 by means of the coiled spring 30, which ispermanently attached at one end to the box 29 and at the other end tothe block 26, as shown in Fig. 1.

31 is a bell-crank pivoted at 32 to a lug forming a part of the box 29.One arm of this bell-crank is united by a spiral spring 34 to the block26 and the other arm is connected by a rod 36 to the arm 37 of thebellcrank 39, which is hinged to the under side of the car-floor andnear to the dashboard 40. The other arm 41 is connected by a' link 42 tothe treadle 43, upon which the motorman places his foot when sand is tobe applied to the track-rails.

45 is a nozzle leading laterally from the cylindrical portion of thesand-box, and 46 a pipe leading from the said nozzle toward thetrackrail.

49 is a gate which is held by a spring 50 over the end of the pipe 46,and- 51 a wire connecting the said gate to the lower arm of thebell-crank 39.

When the apparatus is not in use, the friction-wheel 23 is retained fromcontact with the car-wheel, and as the car rounds a curve the shaft 16slides longitudinally of the sleeve 19. When it is desired to conveysand to the track-rail, the motorman presses his foot on the treadle 43and the friction-wheel 23 is drawn to contact with the car-wheel and thescrew-conveyer set in revolution, which feeds the sand to the pipe 46,which has been uncovered by the withdrawal of the gate 49. Whensuflicient sand has been applied to the rails, the motorman removes hisfoot from the treadle 43 and the various parts of the mechanism assumetheir original positions (shownin the drawings) and the feeding of sandis suspended;

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a track-sanding apparatus thecombination of a sand-box having a conveyerscrew therein, gear-wheels toeffect the rotation of the said conveyor-screw, a frictionwheel which isheld yieldingly from contact with the car-wheel, means to communicaterotation from the said friction-wheel to the said train of gearing, andappliances to move the said friction-wheel toward and from the said.car-wheel, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with a truck-wheel of a car, a sand-box having a screwconveyor therein, a shaft'having at one end a friction-wheel adapted 'tobe brought into contact with the said car-wheel, and at the otherprovided with a train of gearing whereby rotation is communicated to thesaid conveyor-screw, the said shaft having therein a universal jointwhereby a portion of the said shaft may be moved laterally withoutcommunicating a corresponding movement to the other part, substantiallyas specified.

3. In combination with a truck-wheel of a car, a sand-box containing aconveyor-screw, a shaft in two parts connected by a universal joint,having at one end thereof a frictionwheel adapted to be brought intocontact with the said car-wheel, and at the other provided with a trainof gearing which communicates rotation to the said conveyor-screw, thesaid train of gearing being situated in a casing which is adapted tohave a rotary move ment in common with the portion of the said shaft towhich the said train of gearing is se= cured, and independently of thesand-box, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM P. L. PENTLAND Witnesses:

DOUGLAS GOTT, OREGON MILTON DENNIS.

